City woman who inspired voters has died

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This article was published 16/11/2019 (1820 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MADDISON Yetman, an 18-year-old woman who pleaded with Canadians to vote in October’s federal election, died Saturday afternoon after a short battle with cancer.

Yetman’s family confirmed her death in a post on her social-media accounts.

“Our beautiful little peanut passed away (Saturday),” her uncle Brent Williamson wrote. “She was stronger than anyone could imagine and left a wonderful mark on the world.”

In October, Yetman — who’d been looking forward to voting in her first federal election — was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told she had only days or weeks to live. From her hospital bed a few days later, Yetman made a video urging Canadians to exercise their democratic right by casting a ballot.

After her video was posted, Williamson told The Canadian Press, “She has time left on this earth that is measurable in hours and she took time to vote.”

Yetman voted at the Health Sciences Centre. Elections Canada ensured patients got an opportunity to participate in the electoral process while hospitalized.

At the time the video was posted, her uncle said she was known for her strong will and her passion for politics, emphasized best by her emotional plea for people to take advantage of the chance they had to shape democracy through their vote.

“It shows how much it meant to her — it’s an indicator of how much it should mean for everyone else,” he told the Free Press in October.

Yetman had been studying anthropology at the University of Winnipeg. In the Facebook post that caught the attention of the prime minister, she wrote, “This is my last chance to make a difference.”

‘She was stronger than anyone could imagine and left a wonderful mark on the world.’
— uncle Brent Williamson

Her family posted that Yetman wanted to thank everyone who sent messages of support and love, and asked that those considering a donation in her memory make one to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca